• About the Program
• Admissions Information
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Pre-Admissions Courses
  • Clinical Experience
  • Admissions Process
  • Cost of Attendance
  • Scholarships & Financial Aid
  • Information Sessions
  • Supplemental Application
• Curriculum
• Students
• Faculty
• Alumni & Preceptors
• Contacts

Admissions Requirements

The EMU PA Program Admissions Requirements were developed to be straightforward and attainable for prospective applicants. They are intended to serve as a guide for those interested in applying to the EMU PA Program. These are the minimum requirements for an application to be reviewed and evaluated by the EMU PA Program Admission Committee. Simply meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee progression to the on-campus interview stage of the admissions process.

 

Update 4.15.2013 - Application - For those applying to start the EMU PA Program in May 2014, the program requires a completed CASPA application and EMU PA Program Supplemental Application by September 1, 2013. See Admissions Process for more details.

 

Bachelor Degree

A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university or appropriate international institution must be completed prior to matriculation. Candidates may apply while their degree is in progress, but degree completion demonstrated by transcript evaluation is necessary prior to matriculation into the PA Program.

Grade Point Average

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required at the time of application. This GPA can be attained with a cumulative undergraduate, a completed graduate, or an overall GPA. A cumulative undergraduate GPA includes all college courses taken prior to receiving a bachelor degree and undergraduate courses taken after receiving a bachelor degree (such as pre-admission courses). The overall GPA includes all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate courses (not doctoral). It is the expectation that the average successful applicant has a GPA much higher than 3.0.

Pre-Admission Courses

All of the following pre-admission courses must be completed and fulfill all associated requirements prior to matriculation into the EMU PA Program. Visit Pre-Admissions Courses for more detailed information, including deadlines for completion of courses.

1. Anatomy
2. Physiology
3. General Chemistry with Lab
4. Organic Chemistry with Lab or Biochemistry with Lab
5. Microbiology with Lab
6. Developmental/Lifespan Psychology
7. Statistics

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Scores

The GRE revised General Test or GRE General Test is required. Candidates are required to self-report GRE scores on the CASPA application to be considered for admission (official score reports do not need to be submitted to CASPA). Candidates selected for an on-campus interview will be required to provide appropriate GRE score documentation directly to EMU. In the event that appropriate score reports are not provided to EMU, the candidate will be removed from consideration for admission.

There is no minimum score necessary for admission and no expiration of GRE scores. The GRE will only send official score reports from the most recent five years. For GRE tests taken more than five years ago, individual/personal score reports or copies of official score reports may be accepted by the EMU PA Program. The Eastern Michigan University GRE Institutional Code is 1201.

Reference Letters

Two reference letters are necessary and it is recommended that the letters be written by:

1. Health care professional or other supervisor qualified to evaluate the applicant's interpersonal skills and ability to meet the demands of functioning as a physician assistant student and professional
2. Science Instructor or Health Profession's Advisory Committee qualified to evaluate the applicant's potential for success as a graduate level student and future physician assistant.

Clinical Experience / Health Care Hours

A minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience must be completed prior to application. Clinical Experience / Health Care Hours can occur in a volunteer or paid position in a wide range of health care settings. Visit Clinical Experience / Health Care Hours for more information.

Preference will be given to candidates with direct patient care experiences, particularly those that required specific training and/or licensure. Preference will also be given to candidates who have completed greater numbers of hours of clinical experience.

International and Foreign Degree Applicants

An international applicant is defined as a student who is either not a United States citizen or a student who has educational credentials from outside the United States. All applicants to the EMU PA Program with non-U.S. post secondary educational credentials must submit an evaluation of all non-U.S. post-secondary education using Educational Perspectives (EP). EP is the only educational credential evaluation service that is accepted by the EMU PA Program. A "Detailed" Report (course by course evaluation) is required. This evaluation will be used to determine eligibility for admission to EMU, if the non-U.S. institution is recognized and provide a U.S.-equivalent Grade Point Average (GPA). A four-year bachelor's degree from a Ministry of Education recognized or accredited institution is the minimum degree requirement for admission. Please visit the EMU EP webpage: www.edperspective.org/emich for details on how to submit the evaluation request and obtain an EP application form.

All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL iBT examination. No other form of the TOEFL or other tests will be accepted. A minimum score of 95 on the TOEFL iBT is required for consideration for admission into the EMU PA Program. Applicants must report their TOEFL scores on the CASPA application and send an official TOEFL score report to EMU.

All international applicants are expected to understand and meet all other eligibility requirements for admission to the EMU PA Program and the Graduate School. For more information about the Graduate School requirements, please visit the International Student webpage. Applicants to the EMU PA Program are not required to submit an EMU Graduate School Application and should refer to the Admissions Process page for application procedures. For questions about residency/visa or financial requirements, please contact the Office of International Admissions at international.admissions@emich.edu.  

Technical Standards

All applicants must be aware of the EMU PA Program required technical standards. Open Technical Standards pdf for detailed information.

Rules and Regulations

In addition to the above requirements, all EMU PA Program students must agree to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the program. These can be found in the Student Handbook pdf.

 

Please keep in mind that the EMU PA Curriculum is very rigorous.

No advanced placement or advanced standing is granted and no transfer credit or credit for past work or other experiences are accepted.

For a composite document of the above requirements, open the Admissions Information pdf.